So much for going unnoticed.
I smiled as I twisted the sword and debated whether I wanted to join this fight.
And which side should I be on?
I knew which side Ihadto choose to maintain who I was supposed to be in this realm. But Ireallywanted to shout at theidiots in the hoods to meet me in the Revenant Woods, where they could make a real difference instead of getting slaughtered here as they inevitably would.
I bit my tongue. While these idiots would be helpful in our currently silent war against the king, shouting at them to join me would expose me.
In the end, I didn’t have to make a choice. With a voracious yell, four of those in hoods charged me.
Believing I was on their side, the guards shifted their attention back to the battle. I hated this role I played, and I might have to kill those I’d prefer to help, but I had to act it out, or everything Ellery and I were building together would fall apart.
Plus, I couldn’t stand here and let them attack me. With relative ease, a swing, and a thrust of my sword, I took out the first two. I didn’t kill them, but they wouldn’t get up anytime soon.
The third was better trained and far more ruthless as they shoved the fourth at me. Unprepared to be thrown to the wolves by his ally, the pushed amsirah staggered forward and nearly collided with my legs when they fell.
I danced out of the way in time to avoid being brought down by them. I smashed the hilt of my sword onto their back, knocking them to the ground. Their arms and legs splayed open as they hit the floor with a grunt.
In the time I was distracted by the fourth, the more ruthless amsirah had loaded their crossbow. From only five feet away, the bolt leveled on the center of my chest, the pointed tip of the arrow aimed directly at my heart.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Ryker
With a twang,the crossbow released, and the bolt whistled through the air. Instincts propelled me as I swung my blade up. The bolt hit it with atingsound and deflected the weapon onto the floor, where a guard’s boot crushed it.
My nostrils flared as I leveled the fourth amsirah with a murderous look. They had no way of knowing I was secretly on their side, but the fucker had tried to kill me, and I was as trapped in Tempest as they were… andeveryoneknew that.
The amsirah’s eyes widened, but before I could advance on them, they danced away, turned, and sprinted back toward the battle. The cacophony of noise intensified as the two sides clashed, and partygoers, caught in the middle, scrambled to get away… most failed.
Before I could retreat into the shadows again, another hooded amsirah emerged from the crush and came at me with their sword raised. I recognized training in the movement of their feet and the rotation of their hands a second before our swords clashed.
Sparks flew from our blades as the shorter, yet bulkier amsirah leaned more fully into me. Gritting my teeth, I pushed him off and shoved him back a few steps.
I swung my sword, seeking to plunge it into their thigh, but they blocked my blow. Lifting their sword, they tried to bring it down across mine, but I yanked it back in time to avoid them pinning my weapon.
When their sword struck the floor, a chunk of marble flew off. Before they could recover their weapon, I bashed my blade against theirs.
The blow knocked it from the amsirah’s hands and spun it across the floor to the shadows near the wall. When their eyes met mine, I could tell they were contemplating rushing me, but they wisely reconsidered the action and turned to flee.
Just when I believed I had a bit of a breather, the twang of more bolts alerted me to the hooded figures approaching with their weapons raised. Having decided I was their biggest enemy, more were turning on me.
The bolts whistled through the air as they shot toward me. I threw myself to the ground and rolled to avoid the projectiles, but I wasn’t fast enough.
One pierced my upper thigh and sank into my muscle. Seizing the bolt’s shaft, I ripped it free.
The blood that spilled forth cleaved my black pants to my leg and seeped down my skin as I tossed the bolt aside. I was tired of being shot with arrows, and I’d had enough of these assholes.
Rolling onto my stomach, I planted my hands against the cool marble as I worked to draw lightning from the ground. The thick layers of rock beneath me blocked my access to the flow of electricity pulsing within our earth.
The lightning rods above would stop any lightning I pulled from the air, but none of it would stop the thunder. But first, Ihad to get somewhere safe as another volley of bolts rocketed my way.
I rolled to avoid being hit again and leapt to my feet. Ignoring the discomfort in my thigh, I ran as more arrows clattered off the wall behind me and pinged off the floor.
One sliced across my shoulder, cut open my clothes, and caused more blood to seep down my back. Another skimmed my arm and sliced away a part of my sleeve but didn’t draw blood.
Throwing myself to the ground, I rolled across the floor and came up behind one of the stone pillars. The tapestry swayed beneath my hands, revealing a glimpse of the hidden alcove within.
